The scars of Arsenal’s solely earlier European Cup ultimate nonetheless hang-out Robert Pires 20 years on.
They’re wounds which have by no means absolutely healed. The Gunners have been crushed 2-1 by Barcelona on the Stade de France on that night in 2006, with goalkeeper Jens Lehmann despatched off after 18 minutes for bringing down Samuel Eto’o. Arsene Wenger appeared on the bench, appeared again at Pires, and gave him a glance of grim inevitability: he was the unfortunate one.
Pires was the person sacrificed for back-up goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to come back on. Two days later, the French midfielder advised Wenger that he was leaving the membership. The ultimate picture of him in an Arsenal shirt after six superb years was him forlornly trudging to the bench. Even now, you’ll be able to see him flinch when requested in regards to the match.
It stays one of many nice sliding-doors moments in Arsenal’s historical past. A possibility to be topped kings of Europe squandered, an period of trophyless austerity on the Emirates ushered in.
For Pires, personally, the ache carried an additional edge. It was his ultimate look for the membership – and one of many shortest and most emotional nights of his profession.
He had been one in every of Wenger’s trusted lieutenants throughout Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning campaigns in 2002 and 2004, making his elimination after Lehmann’s crimson card all of the extra devastating.
The match nonetheless holds painful recollections for Robert Pires, who was hooked off after Jens Lehmann was despatched off for bringing down Samuel Eto’o
The Frenchman might solely watch on as Barcelona got here from behind to win 2-1 on the Stade de France. It proved to be his final recreation for the membership
| BARCELONA 2 | ARSENAL 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Valdes | GK | Jens Lehmann |
| Oleguer (Juliano Belletti 71min) | RB | Emmanuel Eboue |
| Rafael Marquez | CB | Kolo Toure |
| Carles Puyol (capt) | CB | Sol Campbell |
| Giovanni van Bronckhorst | LB | Ashley Cole |
| Edmilson (Andres Iniesta 46) | CDM | Gilberto Silva |
| Mark van Bommel (Henrik Larsson 61) | CM | Cesc Fabregas (Mathieu Flamini 74) |
| Ludovic Giuly | RM | Robert Pires (Manuel Almunia 18) |
| Deco | CAM | Freddie Ljungberg |
| Ronaldinho | LM | Alexander Hleb (Jose Antonio Reyes 85) |
| Samuel Eto’o | ST | Thierry Henry |
| Frank Rijkaard | Supervisor | Arsene Wenger |
| Eto’o 76, Belletti 81 | Scorers | Campbell 37 |
| Jorquera, Sylvinho, Motta, Xavi | Unused subs | Senderos, Clichy, Bergkamp, Van Persie |
‘It was a horrible second for me,’ Pires tells Every day Mail Sport. ‘The second was very tough. I used to be very upset as a result of we misplaced. I had purchased seats for all my household. Everybody was there.
‘The Champions League is the very best membership competitors. After we went again to London, everybody was very, very unhappy.’
The trauma of Pires’ ultimate heartbreak has left the 52-year-old all of the extra determined for Arsenal to go one higher and elevate a primary European Cup of their 140-year historical past towards Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on Saturday. It could, in any case these years, lastly give Pires some solace. His eyes beam upon reflecting on Arsenal’s rise beneath Mikel Arteta, from tenth place to champions.
‘After all I hope and I want to see Arsenal win the Premier League and the Champions League, as a result of they will make historical past,’ he says. ‘And I believe Arsenal deserve it. After their fall final season (shedding to PSG within the semi-finals), they’re now very near successful the Champions League. For the second, every thing is optimistic for Arsenal.
‘They will do it as a result of they’ve good high quality, a superb crew, nice skills. And it is all as a result of Mikel Arteta is among the greatest managers within the UK.’
There’s a feeling that Arsenal are arriving on the ultimate in the precise second; Arteta’s squad are now not a proficient crew studying on the job. His aspect have proven better composure in high-pressure matches, a trait which was lacking throughout their earlier title challenges beneath the Spaniard.
Internally, there’s additionally a perception that the repeated disappointments of three consecutive seasons as runners-up have hardened the squad psychologically. For Pires, the change in fortunes at Arsenal is all to do with the thoughts.
‘Between the final season and this season, mentally there was a change, as a result of Arteta has realized about this,’ he says. ‘The communication between Arteta and the gamers (has improved) as nicely. I believe he has discovered one thing new. He is clever, he is good. When he says, “I need this man (Eberechi) Eze”, it is as a result of he is aware of he may help Arsenal.
The loss stays one of many nice sliding-doors moments in Arsenal’s historical past. A possibility to be topped kings of Europe squandered, an period of trophyless austerity on the Emirates ushered in
‘I hope could make historical past,’ he says. ‘And I believe they deserve it. For the second, every thing is optimistic for Arsenal’
‘Mikel Arteta is among the greatest managers within the UK,’ says Pires of the coach who has guided Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years
‘And all of the Arsenal gamers, they’re essential, it isn’t simply the beginning line-up. Even the man on the bench is essential. You want the outdated gamers, you want the younger gamers like Max Dowman, like Myles Lewis-Skelly. The crew is the crew.’
After a middling debut marketing campaign when becoming a member of from Marseille in 2000, Pires was footballer of the yr within the Double-winning season of 2001-02 after which a key participant in Wenger’s unbeaten Invincibles aspect two years later, scoring 14 Premier League objectives and 19 in all competitions. And he sees echoes of that crew within the class of 2026.
‘I believe Arsenal have the identical DNA (because the Invincibles),’ he provides. ‘In my time with Arsene Wenger, it was to attempt to play good soccer. At the moment with Mikel Arteta, it is the identical. In my time, for instance, I used to play with Patrick Vieira. He was excellent. At the moment, for me, probably the greatest gamers is Declan Rice.
‘When you’ve got a participant like this, you might be extra snug along with your crew. He could make the stability between the defence, between the assault. That is why Declan is excellent. He is a contemporary midfielder. They’ve numerous exercise on the sphere. Technically, he is excellent. Good high quality on the cross, at corners. He can create assists. He is very full.’
The ultimate pits the Gunners towards a PSG crew that includes world-class attackers resembling Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Want Doue. So it’s Arteta’s again 4 which might maintain the important thing to successful.
It has turn into the muse of Arsenal’s rise, combining physicality with a tactical self-discipline that has made them one in every of Europe’s hardest groups to interrupt down. Within the Champions League this season, throughout 14 video games they’ve conceded simply six objectives and saved 9 clear sheets. That’s mightily spectacular.
‘Arsenal have an excellent defence,’ Pires explains. ‘However after I speak about defence, it isn’t solely the 4 defenders and the goalkeeper. It is the crew, they work collectively. And for Arteta, that is essential.
‘I believe PSG are favourites as a result of they’ve the very best crew in Europe. However Arsenal, they’ve a superb argument to beat them. They’ve nice gamers too.’
There’s additionally a way of symmetry round Arsenal returning to European soccer’s greatest stage twenty years after the agony of Paris. Again then, Wenger’s aspect arrived on the ultimate as underdogs, towards a Barcelona crew about to enter its personal golden period, with Xavi and Andres Iniesta on the bench and Lionel Messi not but within the matchday squad.
He sees similarities between his former team-mate Patrick Vieira and Declan Rice. ‘When you’ve got a participant like this, you might be extra snug along with your crew’
‘I believe Arsenal have the identical DNA (because the Invincibles),’ he says. ‘In my time with Arsene Wenger, it was to attempt to play good soccer. At the moment with Arteta, it is the identical’
Having already delivered the Gunners’ long-awaited league title, the tip of some of the dramatic managerial rebuilds in English soccer historical past is in sight
This Arsenal crew journey with better expectation and perception, and victory on the Puskas Enviornment would cement Arteta’s place among the many membership’s trendy greats.
Having already delivered the Gunners’ long-awaited league title, the tip of some of the dramatic managerial rebuilds in English soccer historical past is in sight.
Pires’ ultimate message to the gamers is straightforward: ‘Simply be concentrated, targeted and revel in this second. It is like me 20 years in the past after we performed towards Barcelona.
‘After all, the target is to go away with the trophy. All of them have a superb alternative. And this can be a nice second. Closing of the Champions League for the membership, for the followers. It is essential.’
Robert Pires is a Flixbus ambassador. Go to www.flixbus.co.uk
